We are thrilled to announce that casting is now complete for Jaradoa Theater’s production of the new musical I’ll Be Damned!

We already announced that Jaradoa’s fourth production, starring Mary Testa, Kenita Miller and Kurt Robbins, will play a limited Off-Broadway engagement this July. Newly added to the cast of the tuner about a lonely high school student who makes a pact with the devil are Emily Borromeo, Nick Gelona, Jacob Hoffman, Anthony Martinez, Dana Steingold, Gregory Treco, and Jaradoa Members Daryl Ray Carliles and Stephanie Martinez.

Rob Broadhurst and Brent Black co-authored the musical that will be directed by Jaradoa Managing Artistic Director April Nickell. I’ll Be Damned will run July 1-18 at the Vineyard Theatre. Jaradoa Theater produces.

I’ll Be Damned is the story of a friendless, comic-book-loving homeschooler named Louis who receives a seemingly irresistible offer from Satan. Louis’ mother is a little late in coming to terms with her son growing up, God seems lost in his vision of a perfect world, and Louis is discovering himself as he attempts to find just one true friend. This fresh new musical comedy begs the universal question: ‘Is there a way to make people like you without having to sell your soul to the devil?’

I’ll Be Damned will have choreography by In the Heights cast member Luis Salgado and musical direction by Jason Sherbundy. The design team will include Sean Tribble (scenic design), Andrea Varga (costume design), Herrick Goldman (lighting design) and Mike Farfalla (sound design).

We are so thrilled to announce that our spring/summer production will be the hilarious new musical I’LL BE DAMNED!

I’LL BE DAMNED is the story of a friendless, comic-book-loving homeschooler named Louis who receives a seemingly irresistible offer from Satan. Louis’ mother is a little late in coming to terms with her son growing up, God seems lost in his vision of a perfect world, and Louis is discovering himself as he attempts to find just one true friend.

We are also thrilled to announce that Mary Testa (GUYS AND DOLLS), Kenita R. Miller (THE COLOR PURPLE) and Kurt Robbins (Nat’l Tour of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE) have already been cast in this fresh new musical comedy. Jaradoa Artistic Director April Nickell will direct I’LL BE DAMNED, which is written by Rob Broadhurst and Brent Black.

The show will be performed (as was SHAFRIKA, THE WHITE GIRL) at The Dimson Theatre at The Vineyard, and will run from July 1-18th (schedule varies).

The best part is, tickets are now on sale! Be the first of your friends to grab tickets to what will undoubtedly be the most devilish musical you’ve ever seen! For more information, visit http://www.jaradoatheater.org/illbedamned.html!

Since we’re in pre-production for our next show, we started to reminisce about our past productions! The result? A charming photo flashback for all to enjoy – including commentary from those who lived it! And stay posted for announcements about our upcoming show!

The cast of Shafrika, The White Girl, our musical about Anika Larsen’s childhood growing up with 9 brothers and sisters adopted from all over the world.

Rehearsal for our Gypsy of the Year skit featuring the casts of Shafrika, The White Girl and Avenue Q.﻿

“What a wicked crazy stupid fun rehearsal that was, with all these wildly talented people coming to play with us in a ridiculous hip-hop number choreographed by Luis. It was one of those times when you don’t want to be in the thing because you want to watch and see how funny and fierce everyone is. And when you don’t mind being upstaged, cuz you’re being upstaged by a puppet.”
–Anika Larson

Eileen Rivera and Jeremy O’Grady in The Small of Her Back, our first straight play.

“I’ll always treasure working on this piece. It was a thriller, so April, Jeremy and I worked really hard to tell the story so the audience wasn’t ahead of us yet took everyone on a ride. That gun was heavy. (Guns are heavy, people.) Poor Jeremy’s wrist chafed from the handcuffs, and I had to put my ego aside and wear absolutely no makeup. I will also always hold in such high esteem Brandon’s amazing scenic design. He’d put some inside jokes on post-its on the walls, like all Jaradoa members’ names near the lamp, and even at one spot by the front door, the entire condensed plot of the play! Good thing no one noticed.”
–Eileen Rivera

“This was exciting for me because I had seen In The Heights a few times and loved it, so I was thrilled when “the hot dancer with the hair” became my dear collaborator and the creative team saw my company’s first show!”
–April Nickell

On this, the last Thanksgiving of the first decade of the third millennium, we asked our Jaradoa Members what they’re thankful for, and here’s what they said:

Amanda is thankful for the little baby girl in her tummy.

Andrea is thankful for Thanksgiving in New York City… the most wonderful city in the world. And she’s thankful for the extended theater family that are surrogates for family far away during the holidays.

Anika is thankful for the realization that it takes very little to affect other people’s lives in a big way. She’s also thankful for puppets, “Mad Men,” the NYC subway system, mangoes, anyone with the last name Obama, and how her families, both Larsen and Jaradoa, have grown in the last year–more babies and grown-ups to love!

April is grateful for experiencing compassion this year, both for herself and others.

Chris is so grateful to God this year for an amazing family that is supportive of him pursuing a career in the arts. He’s also thankful for Papaya Dog and the state of Kansas.

Daryl is so thankful for the constant love he receives from his family and amazing circle of friends. As an added bonus, he feels he has the combination of both with Jaradoa! Each and every breath and day shared on this side of a healthy life is a blessing to him.

Eileen is ever-so-thankful for old friends, new friends, leaps of faith, cats, dogs, Thanksgiving trips to LA, her awesome family, her newfound appreciation for scotch whiskey, and her theatrical home at Jaradoa Theater!

John is thankful for babies, beer and bbq. He wishes everyone Happy Thanksgiving from Texas.

Joshua is so grateful to be surrounded with such loving and dedicated artists–much like the ones in Jaradoa.
Also, he’s very thankful for In-N-Out Burger.

Kelly‘s thankful list is so long, but it starts and ends with loving family, good health, good friends, and the illuminating and empowering presence of art in her life.

Kevin is thankful for chances to express himself, and for the friends in his life and people who make him feel loved.

Kurt has found in traveling the world recently that people are a lot more generous and open than the news or common expectation gives them credit for. From Sydney to Casablanca, he has met lots of regular folks who are just downright awesome. So basically he’s grateful to the people of the world for being so cool.

Robert is thankful for the roof over his head, the production opportunities that continue to come his way, and the love of his family and friends. And he’s thankful that the Yankees won the World Series.

Stephanie is thankful for discounted airfare and the opportunity to go home and spend so much time with her family this year. And she is thankful for Chris motivating her to work out everyday, as she laughs her way through ridiculous exercises like the Crunchy Frog and the Groucho Walk.

Telly is thankful for all the wonderful people in his life–and especially grateful that he is going OUT with some of them for Thanksgiving dinner. No cooking, no clean-up!

• Play On! •Our playwriting and acting course for kids!
– At an afterschool program in the Bronx:
May 5, 14, 21, 28 and June 4 from 4:00-5:30.

• Shafrika, The White Girl •Our next production will rehearse in May and run in June, and we’ll need volunteers for load in and load out, ushering, running crew, board ops, and much more! If you’re interested in helping out on the production in some way, drop us a line at info@jaradoatheater.org!

• Play Club •Once a month, we read a play together. Just for fun!
May 20, 5:00-7:00; June 17, 5:00-7:00; July 22, 5:00-7:00

• Play Club – Once a month, we read a play together. Just for fun!
March 18, 4:00-7:00; April 15, 5:00-7:00; May 20, 5:00-7:00.

•Shafrika, The White Girl, our next production, will rehearse in May and run in June. We’ll need volunteers for load in and load out, ushering, running crew, board ops, and much more! If you’re interested in helping out on the production in some way, drop us a line at info@jaradoatheater.org